As political permutations gather momentum ahead of the 2027 governorship election, religion has emerged as a major fault line in Niger State, with Christian leaders demanding that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nominate a Christian as Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s running mate if he seeks a second term.
The demand, spearheaded by the Coalition of Concerned Christian Stakeholders (CCCS), has reignited debate over political inclusion, zoning, internal party democracy and religious balance in one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic states.
Although the APC has yet to officially respond, Christian groups insist their agitation is not about religious supremacy but about correcting what they describe as years of political exclusion.
How the agitation gathered steam
The first major public outcry came on May 20, 2026, when the Niger State Christian Voice in Politics and Governance accused the APC of systematically sidelining Christian aspirants during the party’s National Assembly primaries.
Led by its Convener, Habila Daniel Diko, the group alleged that consensus arrangements and zoning were deployed to edge out Christian contenders, warning that the trend could further discourage Christians, particularly young people, from active political participation.
The group also raised concerns over the fate of the Deputy Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Afiniki Dauda, alleging that she came under pressure during the primaries. It warned that unless the trend was reversed, Christians could lose what remained of their political representation in the state.
The debate intensified weeks later when former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism and APC chieftain, Jonathan Vatsa, cautioned that the party risked alienating Christian voters if it fielded another Muslim-Muslim governorship ticket in 2027.
The agitation reached a new level last week when the Coalition of Concerned Christian Stakeholders formally demanded that the APC reserve its deputy governorship ticket for a Christian.
Addressing journalists in Minna, the coalition’s Secretary, Comrade Jude Johnson, flanked by Vatsa and other members, said the demand was driven by the principles of justice, fairness and inclusive governance.
“We demand a Christian deputy,” the coalition declared, arguing that leadership in a religiously diverse state should reflect the state’s population composition.
The group maintained that Christians played a significant role in Governor Bago’s 2023 victory but warned that continued support for his re-election bid would depend largely on whether the perceived imbalance in political appointments was addressed.
It also urged the governor to consider a Christian from Niger East (Zone B), citing the zone’s large Christian population and availability of qualified party members.
The numbers behind the agitation
Supporters of the campaign point to the current distribution of political offices as evidence of what they describe as growing exclusion.
The governor, deputy governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff are all Muslims.
The state’s three senators and all 11 members of the House of Representatives are also Muslims.
In the 27-member House of Assembly, only three lawmakers are Christians, with Deputy Speaker Hon. Afiniki Dauda remaining the highest-ranking Christian elected official. However, following the APC primaries, she is not expected to return to the Assembly.
At the grassroots level, only one of the state’s 25 local government chairmen is a Christian, while just three of the 30 commissioners are Christians.
The coalition argues that these figures reflect a steady decline in Christian participation in governance despite its claim that Christians constitute about 45 per cent of Niger State’s population.
For many Christian leaders, the current agitation is rooted in history.
Since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu has been the only Christian to serve as Deputy Governor of Niger State. He held office under the late Governor Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure between 1999 and 2007.
Political analyst Bala John recalled that Christians occupied several strategic positions during the administrations of Kure and former Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, serving as Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff and commissioners, while enjoying stronger representation in the House of Assembly.
According to him, successive administrations also sponsored Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem alongside Muslim pilgrims to Mecca.
“The concern today is not that Christians never had representation. Many simply believe the level of inclusion has reduced under the current administration,” he said.
Responding to questions about why Christians appeared less vocal during the eight-year administration of former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Vatsa insisted that efforts were made to appoint a Christian deputy governor at the time.
According to him, the APC had initially proposed former Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Sunday Kolo, as deputy governorship candidate before the ticket eventually went to Ahmed Mohammed Ketso.
Vatsa argued that the development reflected what he described as the erosion of party supremacy, with powerful interests increasingly determining party decisions.
He also rejected suggestions that his latest campaign was politically motivated, noting that he similarly opposed the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 elections.
“I never kept quiet. I spoke when the Muslim-Muslim ticket was adopted nationally and I have continued to speak on issues of fairness and inclusion,” he said.
Perhaps the most striking moment during the briefing came when Vatsa admitted that Christians had not always been politically organized.
“Yes, we were docile,” he said. “But it is better late than never. We are awake now.”
More voices join the conversation
An APC member from Wushishi Local Government Area, Iliya Garba, backed the demand, saying equitable representation would strengthen unity, inclusiveness and public confidence in government.
Similarly, Sunday Olayinka Ojimi, Secretary of OAIC, a bloc within the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), accused the current administration of excluding Christians from governance.
According to him, Christian aspirants who enjoyed grassroots support were persuaded to withdraw during the APC primaries, leaving the community with minimal representation.
“The truth is that Christians in the state are not being carried along. Even where our candidates were popular, they were asked to step down.
“At the state level we are not carried along, and at the local government level we have only one chairman. All we are asking for is the office of deputy governor to ensure equity, fairness and proper representation,” he said.
Political analyst Bala John, however, urged leaders to approach the debate from the broader perspective of inclusive governance rather than religion alone, arguing that balanced representation has historically contributed to peaceful coexistence in the state.
Government, APC remain silent
Efforts to obtain official reactions produced little response.
Governor Bago’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Bologi, said he was unaware of the coalition’s demands and referred inquiries to the Commissioner for Information and Orientation.
The commissioner, Hon. Obed Nuhu Nana, declined to comment, saying he was unfamiliar with the coalition, although he acknowledged Vatsa’s right to express his personal opinions.
Repeated attempts to reach the Niger State APC Publicity Secretary, Musa Sarkinkaji, were unsuccessful before this report was filed.
Beyond the deputy governorship
Whether the APC eventually yields to the demand remains uncertain.
What is clear, however, is that the debate has moved beyond the question of who becomes deputy governor.
It has evolved into a broader conversation about political inclusion, religious representation, internal democracy and the place of equity in Niger State’s power structure.
With political parties already positioning ahead of the 2027 governorship race, the agitation is expected to shape alliances, campaign strategies and voting calculations.
Whether or not it produces a Christian deputy governorship candidate, the issue has firmly entered Niger State’s political discourse and could become one of the defining narratives of the 2027 election.
